Kendra (bestie from college) came to visit Moscow this week to experience the chaotic beauty of Russia. Seeing the Russian ballet at the Bolshoi theater was high on her to-do list, but we didn't think ahead on that one and it is hard to get tickets so last-minute (next day). We decide to scour the internet for plays that are showing this weekend. Finally, we find one playing at the Electotheatre Stanislavky, which I've been to before. I know from touring with the Flying Banana English theater master-mind Martin that the Electro theater Stanisloky is a famous, beautiful, modern theater named after one of the biggest Russian names in the theater world. Exhibit A:

To be fair, we were warned by a Russian speaking friend before attending the show that the tickets we purchased were for a four and a half hour show, which is only part one of a two-part play all in Russian. "We don't care," we say. We want a unique Russian experience and it will be fun to make up the plot ourselves along the way.

What we got was more than we bargained for. Neither of us could really fathom what was happening in the play. However, it is likely that the play was either set in: India, China, Japan, Spain, Portugal, or Morocco.What we saw:1) Roughly 15 actors singing and dancing in a variety of Middle Eastern garb, camo, and black ninja outfits.2) Huge block letters that spelled out A. Pushkin that were implemented as seats, dance-floors, and "horses" throughout the course of the show3) A man whose sole role was to be a horse. He wore camo pants and crawled around on all fours with a white dinner table chair stuck to his backside.4) Men who walked around with hookahs strapped to their backs, blowing lots of smoke. They presumably represented Arabs?5) More than 15 grey yoga balls thrown at the actors from the balcony. This symbolized war. I think.6) Lots of crab-walking, and crab-fights. The actors scooted on and off stage quickly, kicking at whoever was within leg- distance. I think this was symbolic of a dessert. 7) Ninja warriors had a fight scene with flimsy swords after doing an impressive number with singing and tai-chi.

At many points the audience gasped and rustled, but rarely snickered and for the most part, observed with serious faces and serious concentration. By the time the dueling started, I gave up all pretenses of understanding where our play was set. Nothing was made clear until we got home and read the play synopsis and plot.

Some pictures of the play and a short synopsis can be found on the website here. There is also an interesting quote from the director about the play and its goal.